Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at Piedmont Technical College

Piedmont Technical College's allied health program starts graduates nearly $11,000 below what peers earn at other South Carolina technical colleges. At $34,637 in the first year, earnings trail not just the state median ($45,184) but also lag significantly behind nearby programs at Greenville Tech and Spartanburg Community—both delivering first-year salaries above $48,000. That's a meaningful gap when you're trying to pay down debt and get financially established.

The modest debt load of $12,500 helps cushion the blow, and earnings do grow to $38,240 by year four—a 10% increase that at least shows forward momentum. Still, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile among South Carolina's allied health options, meaning three-quarters of similar programs in the state produce better financial outcomes. For a state with 13 technical colleges offering this credential, that's a competitive disadvantage your child would carry into the job market.

If your student is set on this field and location is a factor, exploring options at Greenville Tech or Spartanburg Community (both within reasonable driving distance of Greenwood) could mean an extra $14,000 annually—money that compounds significantly over a career. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to stay local, the data suggests looking elsewhere in South Carolina's strong technical college system.